After more rain grounded helicopters Sunday, rescuers are planning a massive aerial rescue mission today into the Boulder foothills ravaged and isolated by 100-year floodwaters.

Officials said over 1,000 people are being deployed by air and on foot in the search and rescue mission. Military helicopters will begin taking off from Boulder Municipal Airport once the fog and the rain clear, which the National Weather Service forecast predicts should happen by about 9 a.m.

Residents in need of rescue in the foothills should use white sheets, reflective mirrors, flares and signal fires to alert helicopter pilots to their locations. They should also prepare a bag with medications clothes and other important items.

Over 1,200 people were rescued by air and trucks Saturday, but 2 inches of rain and low-hanging fog on Sunday slowed rescue efforts.

As of 8 a.m. today, 233 people remain unaccounted for in Boulder County, and three people have been confirmed dead -- one in Jamestown and two in the Linden Drive area of Boulder County.

Early estimates indicate the floodwaters have caused $100 to $150 million in damage to Boulder County to roads, bridges and other structures in the county.

That figure does not take into account private residences. President Barack Obama has signed a disaster declaration and ordered federal aid for Boulder County residents, freeing up federal funding for those affected by the flood. Boulder County officials are urging people to make claims -- even if they have flood insurance coverage -- to help gauge the severity of the devastating floodwaters.

A flash flood watch remains in effect for Boulder County until 7 p.m. today.

A National Guard helicopter lands Friday at Boulder Municipal Airport after ferrying supplies and rescue personnel to Boulder County mountain towns that have been cut off by the flooding.
(
MARK LEFFINGWELL
)

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